Sectional wall panel



Aug. 11, 1936. L. W. IVQAY SECTIONA'L WALL ISANELl Filed July 20, 1954 ,Los/0 W. 20V' BW f g,

ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT @FFME SECTIONAL WALL PANEL Kansas Application July 20, 1934, Serial No. 736,170

4 Claims.

This invention relates to wall panels and has special reference to metal wall panels of the sectional type for metallic building structures characterized by a facility and rapidity of erection and dismantling.

More particularly, this invention has reference to a metal sectionalwall panel comprising a rectangular sheet having inbent edges and'inturned flanges extending therefrom substantially parallel to. the sheet on three sides thereof and an Out-turned flange on the remaining edge, the inturned flanges forming a box-,like structure which may receive a. filler for-purposes of insulation and the out-turned flange cooperating with one ofthe inturned flanges to secure the panels in a desired relation.

The metal panel of the present invention has been shown in connection with' the form of studding used in my. Patent No.. 1,749,648 issued March 4, 1930., and with which the panel or block may be advantageously. associated. Although the present. construction has been shown as held in place by the above patented studding, still I do not. Wish tobe limited to the use of the panel in connection with this-form of studding alone since various forms-of studding may be'used in lieu thereof.

It has been found desirable in metal building structures to provide wall panels of standardized and interchangeable type so that thel entire structure may be fabricated at a central plant and can thereafter be conveniently set up Whenever desired without the necessity of cutting and tting at the place of installation. The present invention contemplates the above recited provision as Well as the provision of means whereby the building can be dismantled and reassembled Whenever desired. It is, of course, to be understood that the panel of this invention cank also be installed for use in permanent constructionsas Well as in the constructions of the knock-down type, The wall panels may be removed for inspection or repair at any tillle 0l? new sections may be substituted therefor.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a panel member which may be readily installed in a building construction and may be removed therefrom with facility and rapidity.

Another object of this invention is to provide a panel member of the type above recited which may be standardized and interchangeable in various forms and shapes of building structures.

It is also an object of'this invention to provide a panel member of metal to assume a box-like sive to manufacture, and which will be durable di' in character.

Otherobjects and advantages will hereinafter be more particularly pointed out and for a more complete understanding of the characteristic features of this invention, reference may now be had 10F'- to the following description when taken'together with the accompanying drawing, in 'which latter:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective View' partially in section of a plurality of devices embodying this invention in an assembled relation;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view from the rear of one of the members of this invention and a fragmentary portion of a complementary member;

Fig. 3 is a plan sectional view taken on thev line 3-,3 of Fig. 1; and 20 Fig. 4 .is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4;-.4 of Fig. 1. l

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the device of this invention is preferably formed of sheet metal, the sheet I being shown as having inbent edges 2, 3, 4, and 5 defining the thickness of the panel. The edges 3, 4, and 5 are provided with inturned anges 6, 'I and 8 extending substantially parallel with the sheet and forming a box-like structure Which may receive a lling material 9; The ller in this instance is shown as being solid and of a size and shape to be conned by the peripheral edges of the flanges. Further, the filler may be formed of any material which will act as an insulator to heat and cold and as an insulator of sound, deadening the panels so that they do not give off a metallic sound.

The inbent edge 2 is provided with an outwardly extending ange I0 which in conjunction 40 with the edge 2 forms a. Shoulder to receive a bottom II of the adjacentcomplementary member. The ange yIi of one member and the flange IIJ of an adjacent. member are provided with reg# istering notches I2 and I3, respectively, to receive 45 fastening devices such as nuts and bolts.l The edge 2 and the extending flange I0 form ak water table as well as a means of alignment` forthe adjacent panels.

When the notches I2 on the flange 6 at the 50 bottom of each panel register with notches I3 on the upper flange I0 of each channel, the respective panels may be secured together by any desired fastening device, edges 4 and 5 being held in place by a clamping member I4 of a stud I5 55 in a manner such as is specifically recited in my patent to which I have above referred.

It will be observed that the panel members may be quickly assembled to give a desired decorative exterior finish to the building since the panel member being of metal can be enamelled or decorated to simulate marble or the like. These panels can be easily fabricated at a factory and shipped to the location of the building to be erected for installation in an expeditious manner. The flanges of the clamping member I4 and the anges I6 and I1 of the studding form grooves between the walls in which the plates may be securely held, the clamping members I4 providing a nish to the wall of the building.

These panels thus form an integral part or section of the wall structure itself, and together with the studding the major part, so far as concerns the rigidity and strength of the wall and ability to withstand the various stresses and strains to which the wall of such a building is subjected. The body of the panel is necessarily of comparatively thin sheet metal, more or less ilexible, and diflicult by itself to anchor satisfactorily to the studding and also to make and maintain a proper horizontal joint and alignment with other panels in the wall. But by the in-bent edges the edge portions of the panel sheet are rendered comparatively stiff and rigid and capable of withstanding the crushing effect of the lateral clamping pressure at the studding by which alone the panels are anchored and secured thereto and by which they are supported. The turned-edge ilanges, substantially parallel with the main sheet, increase this eiTect of stiffness and rigidity in all directions at the edge portions, but particularly in a direction transverse or lateral to the plane of the sheet. This is of importance in aligning and maintaining the horizontal joints between panels which are not supported laterally by the studding or framework of the Wall. The whole panel is thus strengthened by these edges and flanges and made more rigid, and thebody of the sheet is not so liable to ex or bend and crack the outer porcelain or other enamel coating or detract from its appearance. The edge portions thus form, in eiect, a rigid frame for the panel sheet which also protects the same in handling, storing, and the like, as Well as in performing its various functions when embodied in the wall structure. The inbent edges define the thickness of the panel andV by up-turning the upper flange a seat is formed for the bottom edge of the adjacent panel and a water-table for the horizontal joint, as well as a means for fastening the horizontal edges of adjacent panels together between studding, by the upturned ange overlapping the inturned flange of the panel above,'which forms a better aligned and strengthened horizontal joint.

While but a single embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various modifications thereof may be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and, therefore, the same is only to be limited by the scope of the prior art and the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A wall section for metallic building structures adapted to be clamped at its vertical edge portions to the studding of the structure by lateral pressure applied to such portions, comprising a plurality of superposed rectangular sheet metal panels having in-bent edges defining the thickness of the panel and forming part of such edge clamping portions and rendering the same laterally and longitudinally rigid, and means for l clamping the contiguous edges of the panels together independently of the studding or other supports.

2. A wall section for metallic building structures adapted to be clamped at its vertical edge l portions to the studding of the structure by lateral pressure applied to such portions, comprising a plurality of superposed rectangular sheet metal panels having in-bent edges defining the thickness of the panel and terminating in flanges 2 substantially parallel with the sheet, said edges and anges together with the edge portions of the sheet forming strong, stiff and rigid edge portions of the panel, and means for clamping the contiguous edges of the panels together independently of the studding or other supports.

3. A wall section for metallic building structures adapted to be clamped at its vertical edge portions to the studding of the structure by lateral pressure applied to such portions, compris- 3 ing a plurality of superposed rectangular sheet metal panels having in-bent edges dening the thickness of the panel and terminating in edge ilanges in-turned on the sides and bottom and out-turned at the top, the latter and the adjacent 3 edge forming a seat for the bottom of the panel above and a water table for the horizontal joint between panels as well as a means of alignment for adjacent panels, said edges and anges forming stiffening and strengthening members for the edge portions of the panel and rendering the same strong and rigid, and means for clamping the contiguous edges of the panels together independently of the studding or other supports.

4. A wall section for metallic building structures adapted to be clamped at its vertical edge portions to the studding of the structure by lateral pressure applied to such portions, comprising a plurality of superposed rectangular sheet metal panels having in-bent edges dening the thickness of the panel and terminating in edge flanges in-turned on the sides and bottom and up-turned at the top, the latter and the adjacent edge forming a seat for the bottom of the panel above and a water table for the horizontal joint between panels as well as a means of alignment for adjacent panels, and means for fastening said up-turned flange to the in-turned flange of the contiguous panel, said edges and flanges forming stiiening and strengthening members for the 6 edge portions of the panel and rendering the same strong and rigid, and means for clamping the contiguous edges of the panels together independently of the studding or other supports.

LOYD W. RAY. 

